XMU Alumni Contributions Propel XMUM’s Development
In 2024, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) received significant donations from Xiamen University (XMU) alumni, further supporting the University's growth and enhancing its facilities.
March: XMU alumnus Mr. Gao Long donated RMB 10 million, inspired by founder Mr. Tan Kah Kee’s philanthropic spirit, to support XMUM's global transformation.
August: XMU alumnus Prof. Lu Changyi unveiled the plague for Jia Yuan Corridor (嘉缘廊). Previously, he named and inscribed plaques for two other corridors at XMUM campus: Yu Ying Corridor (育英廊) and Xue Qin Corridor (学勤廊).
September: XMU EDP alumna Ms. Wu Xinhui contributed RMB 600,000 to upgrade the Music Island, fostering cultural activities and exchanges. Prof. Dai Minhan, a Chinese Academy of Sciences academician and an XMU alumnus, donated RMB 200,000 to establish an education fund for marine sciences, supporting research and talent development.
October: The XMU Guangdong Alumni Association donated RMB 300,000 to develop Maker Space, promoting innovation and academic competitions.
These generous contributions reflect the strong bond between XMU alumni and XMUM, showcasing their shared commitment to advancing education, innovation, and cross-cultural exchange.
2024 Malaysia-China Youth Innovation Competition Launched at XMUM
The Launching Ceremony of 2024 Malaysia-China Youth Innovation Competition, Malaysia Division Contest of China International College Students' Innovation Competition & Malaysia Division Contest of Chunhui Cup Competition was held at Xiamen University Malaysia on 25 April 2024.
Present were China's Education Minister Huai Jinpeng, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, Malaysia's Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dato' Yusof Apdal, Malaysia-China Friendship Association President Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, Xiamen University Council Chairman Zhang Rong, and Xiamen University Malaysia President Wang Ruifang.
Its final competition and award ceremony was concluded successfully on 29 June 2024, bringing together young innovators from Malaysia and China to present and compete with their innovative ideas and projects.
This year's competition saw participation from over 380 individuals. Representing more than 50 projects from 20 universities across Malaysia, this robust participation underscored the depth of innovation and creativity nurtured by these institutions.
XMUM Advances Innovation and Sustainability through Strategic Collaborations
In 2024, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) further strengthened its international influence in research and industry through partnerships with leading institutions.
April: Xiamen University, MIMOS Berhad and XMUM established a strategic partnership to drive advancements in semiconductor technology. Witnessed by high-ranking officials from Malaysia and China, the collaboration will foster innovations in Advanced Packaging, Wide Bandgap Semiconductors, and Semiconductor System Design.
May: An agreement was signed with the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce to enhance XMUM’s capacity in supporting the overseas development of Chinese enterprises.
August: Prof. Ong Wee Jun, Director of CONNECT and Assistant Dean at the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, secured a grant of over RM 1 million from the PETRONAS-Academia Collaboration Dialogue (PACD) 2023. His project focuses on solar-powered artificial photosynthesis to reduce greenhouse gases from flaring onshore gas terminals.
October: Suntar-CAMS Sustainability Research Laboratory was inaugurated between China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences and Suntar International Group. With RM 1 million in funding, the lab focuses on utilizing greenhouse gases for biobased products, integrating marine biotechnology with advanced membrane technologies.
November: XMUM signed another MoU with SEED Tech Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian green innovation company, to form a long-term industry-academia collaboration. This partnership seeks to advance sustainable technologies such as nanocellulose materials.
XMUM Reach New Heights in Research Excellence
In 2024, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) achieved remarkable milestones in the research domain, showcasing its academic prowess. Currently, XMUM ranks first among Malaysian universities in average citation per paper, third in Nature Index, and 12th in ESI total citations.
In the latest Clarivate ESI global rankings, XMUM has four disciplines - Clinical Medicine, Neuroscience & Behavior, Engineering, and Social Sciences General - entering the top 1% globally. As of December 2024, XMUM has accumulated 95 ESI high-impact papers, including five hot papers.
XMUM faculty and students have published over 1,800 papers in prestigious international journals, more than 1000 of which were featured in top-tier journals such as Science and the Lancet. In 2024 alone, XMUM saw over 300 publications, with more than 70 papers having student first authorship, reflecting its strong research dynamism and international engagement under faculty guidance.
In terms of research projects, XMUM has secured funding for 38 projects under Malaysia's Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), with a total grant amounting to RM4.32 million.
Xiamen University's Research Vessel Tan Kah Kee Hosts Malaysia Public Open Days
Malaysia Public Open Days of the Tan Kah Kee Research Vessel (R/V TKK) was held at Port Klang on 3 and 4 August 2024, attracting over 1,000 visitors to attend the event. During the open days, the vessel offered laboratory tours, various exhibitions, science popularization videos, and interactive activities.
The visit and open day activities of the Tan Kah Kee research vessel are part of Xiamen University (XMU)'s "XMU at Sea" student training program. This program utilizes the Tan Kah Kee vessel to create an internationalized marine science talent training project for students from XMU and its Malaysia campus, and invites students from other universities to participate.
Following the open days, students and lecturers from Xiamen University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu embarked on a training cruise back to China, during which they conducted marine scientific research and training in the South China Sea.
11 XMUM Scientists Featured in Stanford University's 2024 World's Top 2% Scientist List
Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) celebrates the inclusion of 11 of its scientists in Stanford University's World's Top 2% Scientists list, released on 16 September 2024. This recognition, based on Scopus data as of 1 August 2024, highlights the significant impact of XMUM's academic community.
The recognized scientists come from several Schools and Departments, including the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, Department of Physics, China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, School of Foundation Studies, School of Electrical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and School of Computing and Data Science.
Additionally, in 2024, Ts. Dr. Vincent Woon and Dr. Wong Voon Loong were honored with the Private Education Excellence Award, while six scholars from the University were listed in the latest Top Scholars by Scholar GPS. Notably, Prof. Ong Wee Jun achieved the remarkable feat of being listed among Clarivate’s Global Top 1% Scientists for six consecutive years and received the Malaysia Scopus Research Excellence Award.
International Academic Exchange Centre Officially Opens
In 2024, the International Academic Exchange Center at Xiamen University Malaysia was completed and officially put into use.
As a key facility of the University, the Centre spans five floors and includes 134 guest rooms, a Chinese restaurant, a Western restaurant, and a coffee bar. It offers comfortable accommodation and dining services for scholars from partner universities, participants in various training programs, industry partners, as well as visiting students’ parents and alumni. Additionally, the Centre serves teaching purposes.
Symphonic Poem Drama Kah Kee Letters·2963 Premieres at XMUM
The symphonic poem drama Kah Kee Letters·2963 premiered at Xiamen University Malaysia on 27 September 2024, as part of the memorial program celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mr. Tan Kah Kee's birth.
Created and directed by China's national first-class director Wang Gen, in collaboration with the Xiamen Alumni Association Entrepreneur Branch of Xiamen University, Kah Kee Letters·2963 featured the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra and integrated various art forms, including music, recitation, dance-drama, and 24 festive drum performances. The production vividly portrayed Tan Kah Kee's extraordinary life story within a 90-minute timeframe.
According to Daryl Tan, Tan Kah Kee's great-grandson, the return of Xiamen University to Malaysia, over 90 years since its founding, underscores his enduring legacy. He believes that events like the premiere of Kah Kee Letters·2963 help bridge the connection between the people of Malaysia and China.
XMUM Renews and Deepens Collaboration with Cardiff University, UK
Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) renewed its collaboration agreement with Cardiff University (CU) on 24 October 2024, marking a new milestone in strengthening research collaborations and expanding student exchange opportunities.
Through this renewed partnership, both universities aim to advance joint research initiatives and academic exchange programs, fostering cross-disciplinary innovation and shared educational resources.
Since 2018, XMUM has partnered with CU to offer postgraduate progression pathways, providing XMUM students valuable opportunities to further their studies. This collaboration includes benefits such as tuition fee discounts and exemptions from English proficiency tests, making advanced study more accessible. Over the years, this strategic partnership has been enriched through initiatives including the Cardiff University Chamber Choir Concert in 2023 and a series of delegation visits that have deepened academic and cultural exchange between the two universities.
XMUM Achieves New Milestones in Programme Development and Student Recruitment
In 2024, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) introduced a new undergraduate programme in Robotics and Automation Engineering, as well as one master’s and one PhD programme in Computer Science and Technology, all of which will welcome their first students in 2025. Additionally, the undergraduate programmes in Physics, Artificial Intelligence, as well as English Language and Literature celebrated their first cohort of graduates.
In the same year, 1,419 students graduated from XMUM, bringing the total number of graduates to 6,268 since its establishment.
Currently, XMUM offers 24 bachelor’s programmes, 12 master’s programmes, 7 PhD programmes, and 3 foundation programmes. As of December 2024, the student enrolment exceeded 8,500, including more than 2,500 from China, 4,400 from Malaysia, and approximately 1,600 from other countries.